Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a distinguished career spanning more than two decades in the Portugal national team. The announcement was made on Thursday, marking the conclusion of his tenure with the Selecao, for which he made 234 appearances and scored a record 146 goals since his debut in 2003.
Throughout his long career, Ronaldo produced several standout performances that defined his legacy. One of the most memorable occurred in 2013 during the World Cup play-off against Sweden. After Portugal won the first leg 1-0, Ronaldo opened the scoring in the return fixture in Stockholm. Although Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalized with a double, Ronaldo completed his hat-trick in just two minutes to secure Portugal’s place in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The 2016 European Championship remains a pivotal moment in Ronaldo’s career. Portugal advanced to the final in Paris without winning a single group match, seeking redemption after their 2004 defeat to Greece. Ronaldo left the field injured and in tears after only 25 minutes, but his teammates carried him to victory. Eder scored the winning goal in extra-time against hosts France, granting Portugal their first major international trophy.
In 2018, Ronaldo displayed his individual brilliance during Portugal’s World Cup opener against Spain in Sochi. Fresh from winning three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid, he opened the scoring with a penalty and went on to complete a hat-trick, including a late free kick, to earn a thrilling draw for his side.
Even after turning 40, Ronaldo continued to influence major tournaments. In 2025, he helped Portugal reach the Nations League final in Munich, scoring the winner against Germany in the semi-final and equalizing against Spain to force extra time. Portugal ultimately won the match on penalties, claiming the crown six years after their previous victory.
Ronaldo’s final World Cup appearance came in 2026 in Toronto, where Portugal faced Croatia in the last 32. Despite an early offside call and a goal by Ivan Perisic, Ronaldo equalized from the penalty spot. Goncalo Ramos later headed the winning goal for a 2-1 victory, sending Portugal to the last 16, where they were eventually eliminated by tournament winners Spain.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
